"Ripping Yarns" (1976) TV series 1976-1979

Director:

Terry Hughes

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

7 January 1976 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy

Plot:

Ripping Yarns is a collection of tales that make for 'ripping good' television. Michael Palin plays a different lead character in each yarn.

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Michael Palin	...	Bank Manager / ... (9 episodes, 1976-1979)
Charles McKeown	...	2nd native / ... (4 episodes, 1977-1979)

Series Directed by
Jim Franklin		(5 episodes, 1976-1979)
Terry Hughes		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Alan J.W. Bell		(2 episodes, 1979)

Series Writing credits
Terry Jones		(9 episodes, 1976-1979)
Michael Palin		(9 episodes, 1976-1979)

Series Produced by
Sydney Lotterby	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1979)

Series Film Editing by
John Jarvis		(4 episodes, 1977-1979)
Ray Millichope		(3 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Production Design by
Martin Collins		(3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Gerry Scott		(2 episodes, 1979)

Series Costume Design by
Barbara Lane		(2 episodes, 1977)
Robin Stubbs		(2 episodes, 1977)
Roger Reece		(2 episodes, 1979)

Series Makeup Department
Jean Speak	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1977)
Sue Bide	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1977)
Jill Hagger	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1979)

Series Art Department
Ian Hewett	....	graphic designer / graphics designer (3 episodes, 1977-1979)
John Stout	....	design (2 episodes, 1977)

Series Sound Department
Ron Edmonds	....	dubbing mixer (5 episodes, 1977-1979)
Ron Blight	....	sound recordist / film recordist / ... (4 episodes, 1976-1979)
Bryan Showell	....	sound recordist (4 episodes, 1977)

Series Visual Effects by
John Horton	....	visual effects (4 episodes, 1977-1979)

Series Stunts
Stuart Fell	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1977-1979)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Hall	....	film cameraman (6 episodes, 1976-1977)
Mike Radford	....	photography (2 episodes, 1979)
Alan Stevens	....	photography (2 episodes, 1979)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barbara Lane	....	costumes (1 episode, 1977)
Lynda Woodfield	....	costumes (1 episode, 1977)
Valerie Bonner	....	costumes (1 episode, 1979)

Series Editorial Department
Dan Rae	....	film editor (1 episode, 1979)

Series Music Department
Dave Howman	....	arranger: incidental music / composer: incidental music (1 episode, 1979)
André Jacquemin	....	arranger: incidental music (1 episode, 1979)
Trevor Jones	....	arranger: incidental music (1 episode, 1979)

Series Other crew
John Adams	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1976-1979)
Eddie Stuart	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1977)
Marcus Plantin	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1977)
Carol Abbott	....	director's assistant (2 episodes, 1979)
Sue Bennett-Urwin	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1979)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1976) (UK) (TV)
• Acorn Media Group (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Comedy Central (2009) (Hungary) (TV)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

30 min (9 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Cape Cornwall, St Just, Cornwall, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

At least three "Ripping Yarns" were never fully realized. According to Palin and Jones, "The Seawolf", "Rizzo The Wonder Dog" and "Dracula At St.Dominics" were started, but never completed.

Movie Connections:

Featured in What the Pythons Did Next... (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Façade, Suite No. 2 - Fanfare

I thought this would never be released

This is a must buy ! Although I've not seen all 12 episodes, I have seen some, including the jewel: The Testing of Eric Othwaite. Inspired. Educational TV in S.C. serialized the show on Saturday evenings in the mid 70s, alongside the "Goodies" and their highly successful run of Python reruns. Palin and Jones were my favorites in Python. I felt the Oxford style was more accessible to the American audience, but still not to the Benny Hill extreme. As an example, The sight of Tomkinson and the other "faceless rabble" nailed to the walls of the school, by the school bullys (from Tomkinson's School Days) is one of my all-time favorite sight gags. I highly recommend this series to any Python fan. And almost any man over 40 whose ever read or seen a copy of Boys Life from the early 60s will howl in delight at Ripping Yarns.